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anon125's avatar
anon125
Explorer
Sep 18, 2016

battery charging

In winter we normally remove the batteries and put them on the charger for the winter. using a CTEK Multi US 7002.
they seem to like it!
this winter someone has offered to let us store the MH in their big garage.
they say if we just plug in the MH then it may destroy the batteries.
so they are suggesting charge them one week a month.
this may be because they mistrust trickle battery chargers!

if we use the CTEK while the batteries are in the MH WITHOUT plugging the MH in to the electricity will the batteries be okay?
the batteries will still be connected to the MH as per normal usage.

the garage owner is an experienced RVer.
thanks all

30 Replies

  • anon125 wrote:
    In winter we normally remove the batteries and put them on the charger for the winter. using a CTEK Multi US 7002.
    they seem to like it!


    Thanks for your mention of your CTEK charger! I've been wanting something better than my so-called "intelligent" Canadian Tire deep cycle Nautilus brand battery charger AND definitely something better than the WFCO converter in our trailer which never wants to charge beyond 13.6 volts. In Googling for specific details about the CTEK series of chargers I discovered Princess Auto here in Canada is offering online until the end of today the CTEK Multi US 7002 for $140 Cdn, ~ 105 US. Although the CTEK Multi US 25000 with it's much higher maximum charging rate would be an even better choice for RV use the sale price on the 7002 can't be beat so I ordered one. Can't wait to try it out on my 10 yr old Interstate G27. This will also better position me to properly care for the pair of AGM batteries I plan to buy next spring. Thanks for the tip! :B
  • I store outside. Batteries prefer to be cold--it lowers the self discharge rate. I do have temperature compensated charging, and a modest solar system.

    I do maintain the chassis battery with a trik-l-start.

    I would be tempered to use a 7 day timer--with 1 24 hour period per week of charging.

    What type of batteries do you have (voltage and amp-hours in total?)
  • If the installed converter has a proper Float voltage for the garage temperature, the house batteries will be fine. Then you could use the CTEK to Float the engine battery as smk suggested
  • Depends on the on-board charging system. Overcharging is not usually a problem in the cold of Winter. Will not go wrong with CTEK.
    Also verify the chassis battery stays charged.

    Post the converter or inverter/charger model number for best answers.
  • anon125 wrote:
    they say if we just plug in the MH then it will destroy the batteries.

    if we use the CTEK while the batteries are in the MH WITHOUT plugging the MH in to the electricity will the batteries be okay?
    I don't know why an experienced RVer would say that without knowing anything about your setup.

    I don't understand. Isn't the CTEK a charger? How does that work without power?

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